Sweet Spot Style featured in StayBasic Magazine!

Very excited to share that my article "Creating Your Sweet Spot Kitchen" was published today in StayBasic, an online magazine that brings expert advice, helpful tips, and action steps to help busy moms create an easy rhythm for living a more simple, beautiful and healthy life. 

Sign up HERE for your free copy of StayBasic Magazine to read my Sweet Spot article and find endless inspiration for healthy meals and living. Plus it's a really pretty mag, check it out!!

issuu.com/staybasic/docs/staybasic-sept-oct?e=0/4875434

I'm Writing A Book!

Dearest Readers,

Before last summer, I couldn't have guessed that I would be signing a book contract with a NY publisher on a subject that I so deeply love.

I had just finished filming The Desha Show in Nantucket and decided to have a front porch meeting with Development Editor/Author Suzanne Kingsbury and Literary Agent Dede Cummings to discuss how to grow the show, when Dede suggested writing a "Style Book." Her words made my heart RACE.  The energy and ideas flew back and worth and at the end I was almost scared of the idea. It sounded so good and so close to my heart that if I let myself get too excited, and then it didn't work,  I would be more than disappointed... I would be devastated.

Isn't this how it works? We can't acknowledge our number one dream b/c it's too scary to admit we want it. If we admit it and fail, it hurts so much worse than if we failed at something we didn't really care about.

I am not an interior designer. I am not a stylist. I am not an author. It seemed like a long shot to try and write a book on home decor/style and meaning. But I thrive in the world of possibilities. If there was even the slightest bit of hope that it could work, I had to try.

I  might not have the right degrees or certificates, blah blah, blah. But I do know what I like when it comes to style and I am willing to work hard.

Since that day on the porch, I put my whole heart and soul into writing the proposal and tried to be patient through the process. Now I know why authors have sentimental dedications in their books... writing a book is sort of like hanging up a piece of art that took you two years to paint. You've thought about it a lot, it's personal and it makes you feel a bit vulnerable to show the world.

There's so much more I want to share, but for now I just want to take a deep breath and acknowledge my feelings of gratitude. I've loved decor, style and inspirational stories 4-ever and now is my chance to write a book about what I love most. Yippee- Hayay!

Do you have a dream you're too scared to even admit to yourself? Did you take a risk and follow a dream even though it seemed impossible? How did it go? I'd love to hear your stories in the comments below.

xo

Scared of listening to your intuition? Don't be.

This morning I had the pleasure of being interviewed on BCTV to talk about living in the Sweet Spot and how creating The Desha Show on BCTV has opened up doors for me that I could never have imagined. Less than three years ago I was struggling with that never ended esoteric question, "What should I be doing with this fine life of mine" but really it was probably phrased more like, "What the HELL am I doing???"

How cute is Roland at BCTV?

I love my day job as the Director of Career Development at Marlboro College because I get to help people with this question daily. I encourage students to get in touch with their intuition and explore fields they might be interested in. Then it occurred to me, maybe I should take my own advice. I had this dream of doing something creative... but WHAT?

I'd dabbled in ceramics, knitting, Chinese brush painting, sewing, photography and more.  I loved home decor, fashion, art, travel and inspirational stories but couldn't see how to pull all my passions into one thing. Until a fateful day when I went to see Patti at Silvermoon and through some heart opening conversations I came to the realization that I should start a TV show. But, seriously, who starts a TV show in Brattleboro, Vermont? Shouldn't you be in LA or NY or something? And I admit, I was sort of like... what's the point?  But you know what, I didn't let my ego get the best of me. I did it anyway. I produced 7 shows with the amazing support of BCTV and it's opened up so many amazing opportunities for me.

Besides making new friends and being inspired by their Sweet Spot Stories (like author Suzanne Kingsbury from my very 1st episode!) , I've also won an award for best series, hosted several large scale Red Carpet events, and now.... I am writing my first published book- the working title is Sweet Spot Style: Creating the style you crave on  a budget you can afford. I never dreamed of having my own show or writing a home decor book, it's so perfect for me that I can barely believe it's real.
But it is.

A huge thanks to Patti for helping me tap into my own intuition and following it. And thanks to BCTV, because I never would have created The Desha Show without you.

Are you struggling with making your dreams come true? Are you scared to listen to your intuition? What can you do TODAY to get closer to your Sweet Spot? I'd love to hear your story in the comments below.

xo Desha

Ready to live in your Sweet Spot??

"This chick is burning VT up. Trust me. This is my coach and with her sassy class I've experienced "Rebirth!" She might not be doing a one hand cartwheel, but she has brought much loving inspiration to many. She's the bomb and a kick ass Fire Starter Facilitator. I shoulda made a video pumping my girl. Desha Peacock Rocks!" Bessie Jones                                                                                               

Hi friends, many of you know me as the creator of The Desha Show, a local TV show where I interview creative people living in their Sweet Spot, a self defined place of success.  Or, perhaps you've heard of my weekly sessions for creative women based off Danielle LaPorte's book, The Fire Starter Sessions. However, you might not know that I'm also the Director of Career Development at Marlboro College and for the past four years I've helped hundreds of people take action toward obtaining a more fulfilling and joyous career path.

And now, I'm creating Sweet Spot Style Coaching providing career/life coaching to both individuals and groups. I'm in the process of building the new website, so until then I thought I'd offer you a super SWEET deal, 50% off all services for the month of April. My prices will be going up after that, so take advantage of this deal now!

What is Life Coaching?
Life Coaching is right for you if you are ready to take action towards your dreams, but need some help clarifying and focusing on exactly what that dream is! As your coach, I will LISTEN to you, ENCOURAGE you and help you become ACCOUNTABLE to your goals.

What is Career Counseling?
My career counseling services include helping you move forward in the job hunt at stellar speed, making sure your materials will get you noticed and get the job you want. Services include basic career counseling, resume and cover letter writing, interviewing, and salary negotiation.

Contact me at deshapeacock(@)hotmail.com, or call me at 802-451-6691 to set up your first appointment, and please SHARE this message to anyone you know that might benefit, thanks!

Let's do this!

What people are saying about Desha...

"Desha has wonderful energy and has been an inspiration to me in getting my garden design business going. I feel Desha truly believes in me and can help so many others."  Dot Lenhart

"The world WOULD be a much happier place if everyone were living in their Sweet Spot. Desha is inspirational and so sweet to boot!" Maren Batts

"Yes, Desha is an excellent investment - her heart is huge and she blesses all the lives she touches." 

Lari Snorek-Yates

To hear more on Desha as a facilitator of dreams, click here and spread the good word!

Do You Think I Should Win a B School Scholarship w/ Marie Forleo?

Hi dear ones, I believe we can all live in our Sweet Spots- a self defined place of success. It's up to us to create the life we want, and it IS possible! If you believe this to be true, support me by liking this video on Youtube so I win a scholarship to Marie Forleo's B School- Online Business School for Modern Entrepreneurs. Great possibilities exist for us all!  xo Desha

Suzanne Kingsbury Visits The Desha Show

Thanks to author Suzanne Kingsbury for this fine commentary. You are an inspiration. And also, you crack me up, girl.                                                                                    

Finding Your Sweet Spot (I promise this is only a little x-rated!)

November 3rd, 2011 by suzanne

Here I post a weekly diary entry from my grandmother, Maggie, who lived on Saint Mark’s Place,Manhattan, in 1937, and a blog entry from yours truly, who lives in Brattleboro, Vermont, 2010.

The most fabulously incredible thing is happening in Brattleboro, it’s called the Desha Show, a talk show interviewing people who are living in their sweet spots.  So, if you were ever wondering why doesn’t the spot I’m in feel sweet?  Well, you can find out how others got to their sweet spots on the air with Desha Peacock as hostess extraordinaire.

The show just this second launched its fourth episode featuring Ayda Robana, culinary chef to the stars and owner of Om Sweet Mama’s in Santa Barbara (where else?). On other episodes she has interviewed Cirque du Soleil performers and wild comic book writers and my goodness absolutely anyone who has shot for the moon and landed among the stars including ummm a novelist/editor you might know, but I won’t mention any names.

This particular show is cut through with scenes from the Desha Show fun-raiser, the absolute highlight of everyone’s summer, a sparkling celebration under the cradle of a quarter moon right here in my own hometown of Brattleboro, Vermont.  Piles of artists and performers and writers and fans came from as far away as California, and the lawn was decked-out in shabby chic décor that would have made Rachel Ashwell proud. We all drank watermelon mojitos and beautiful people milled around everywhere.  Ayda cooked grilled shrimp and lamb meatballs and hundreds of other delectable tapas while Red Heart the Ticker played a sexy set and then House of Wolves lullabyed us before he ran away on his European tour. He really does sometimes lullabye, it’s very sweet spotty.

Everyone there was living in his or her sweet spot at least for that night.  And while I was standing with Margie Pivar admiring her splash-of-pink dress and talking about her screenplay which was just this minute picked up in Hollywood, I thought how my grandma Maggie would have loved this party, wearing a fancy shift on a summer night with an open bar at her side. As we know, Maggie wallowed in her sweet spot and was friendly with all the other 1940s sweet spotters, and I just had to run right home and dust off the diary and the blog, which has been in deep deep remission (a topic for another time) and finally finally finally check in with Grandma Maggie on Saint Mark’s place as she drinks her champagne and eats her coconut cakes and to say thank you thank you to all you sweethearts (and sweet spotters) who dare to stop your busy lives and follow her…

Click here for the  Desha Show!  And then like it on facebook! Why not?  Or hang out withRed Heart the Ticker and House of Wolves right here…

Erin Lorenzen: Yes you can do it ALL.

Desha:

I'm always interested in finding multi-talented people to interview because it shows  that we can be successful at a variety of things. 

You are a 

fashion designer

artist 

&

yoga teacher 

Can you describe how you arrived at this multi-faceted career path and tell me, 

Do you love it??

Erin:

Well, It all just kind of...happened. I have been making art for as long as I can remember. I studied Studio Art in school. I was a potter, painter, and a sculptor. I moved to Buenos Aires shortly after graduation and learned to silkscreen there. I mainly wanted to learn how to silkscreen so I could add that element to my paintings, but printed some shirts on a whim and started selling them at the Box Turtle on Kavanaugh in Little Rock when I returned. They asked me to participate in local fashion shows, so I started making skirts to go with the t-shirts, and then dresses, and then jewelry...I use all recycled materials and it takes a ton of time, but I do love it. I LOVE it. 

I was introduced to yoga when I was hanging out in the pottery studio in college. I like LIVED in there. I worked all the time and was known to brood and smoke and stare at my work to get it just right. A local yoga studio owner approached me mid-brood and suggested I try a yoga class. I did. I hated it. It was uncomfortable and I thought all the hippie talk was irritating. But I kept going back. 


Yoga has saved me from the stress of life as an artist. While I love love love making art, the business side of the deal can make me want to rip my eyelashes out. My yoga practice has helped me accept not only the stresses of life as an artist, but the stresses of life, that it's all part of the deal.  The practice has taught me how to get through and even enjoy uncomfortable situations, be more flexible and have more fun. Being able to share those things with students has been pretty amazing. 

Desha:

Fashion is a hard industry to break into and you live in Little Rock, AR.... I love LR, but it's not exactly the epi-center of high fashion, just like Brattleboro isn't a hot spot for TV production ha -ha! Did you have any reservations about designing clothes there? If so, what made you decide to go for it anyway, and how did you begin?

Erin:

It all just happened before I had a chance to decide whether or not to "go for it." I guess that's what I'm trying to decide now. I'd like to try and take my work into national fashion and art markets. But, finding funding to produce samples and take them to market can be tough.  

I've been traveling around a bit and checking things out. The fashion scene can be super competitive and cutthroat, but it seems like there is a softer underbelly for folks like me who are trying to work with recycled materials and involve their communities in the creative process.

Desha:

What's been the biggest challenge you've faced on your artistic career path and how did you deal with it?

Little Rock Tees Rock

Erin: My biggest challenges are dealing with money and planning. I love creating, but sometimes find it difficult to be practical and make plans, two musts if you're going to work on bigger projects. 

I've been reaching out to others who have had successful creative businesses to figure out the best path to take.  Although I'm not extremely successful financially at this point, I feel like being able to be creative and expressive in some way every single day is a huge accomplishment.

Couture Prom Dress

Desha:

What advice would you have for artists and designers who would like to make a living in a creative career?

Erin:

I don't necessarily feel like I'm in a place to give advice yet. But, I will say that when I focus on what I'm doing and don't worry too much about how its going to turn out, things generally turn out better. 

I like that Dylan song lyric,

"Do what you must do and do it well."

The Ladies

To learn more about Erin and her creative work, find her on Face Book and coming soon...

www.erinlealorenzen.com